Browse African Slang

Kuona nyama / Zazing'ono (To see animals / small)

Cerimónia fúnebre (Funeral ceremony)

Kupata afya baada ya ugonjwa (To get health after illness)

Kuyenda / Kupita (To go / walk)

Kunyoza / Kuchitira nkhanza (To oppress / mistreat)

Healing process

Kuvuta (To pull / attract)

Kupumula / Kumasuka (To rest / relax)

Kupuma movutika / Kuvutika (To struggle breathing / suffer)

Kuacha kazi kidogo (To stop work briefly)

Fish depletion

Kusukuma jambo (To push something)

Nas/qawm (People/nation - Shilluk)

Kura (New - Dioula)

Kura yangu ni siri (My vote is secret)

Kuraba (To check/see)

Kuragira (To vow/promise)

Kuraguza ubwoba (Dowry ceremony)

Kuraguza umugongo (To gossip)

Kuraguza umunwa (To have breakfast - literally 'buy the mouth')

Kurakara (To be angry)

Kurambagiza (To introduce fiancé to family)

Curandeiro (Traditional healer)

Kurara (To spend the night)

Kurara neza (To sleep well)

Means someone is good luck. (Origin: Sudanese Arabic, lit. "cold foot")

Means someone is bad luck. (Origin: Sudanese Arabic, lit. "hot foot")

Kure (Far)

Kureba (To watch/look)

Kurema (To create/make baskets)

Kurema akazi (To create jobs)

Kurengana (To wrong each other)

Kurenganya (To argue/dispute)

Kurengera abacecetse (To protect the weak)

Kurengera mu ijuru (To float in the sky - to daydream)

Kurima ubutaka (To cultivate land - to be productive)

Kurinda (To protect)

Kurinda isuku (To maintain hygiene)

Kurira (To cry/travel far)

Kurira hamwe (To cry together)

Kurira inkorora (To cough)

Kuririmba (To sing)

A casual greeting in Shona meaning “How are things?” (literally “How is it burning?”).

'to fish.' Slang for to pick up girls/guys (go fishing for a date) in places like malls or church

Kurondora (To supervise/follow up)

Kuronka (To be hungry)

To organize money

Feitiçaria (Witchcraft)

Curral (Corral)

Chair